Food industry responds to new mandatory GMO labeling

Here's what food industry groups said about the new national, mandatory GMO labeling law.

In what seemed like a rapid succession of events, President Obama recently signed bill S. 764 into law, which will require food companies to disclose genetically modified ingredients on product packaging. It gives the USDA two years to write and release detailed labeling rules.

Introduced by Sens. Pat Roberts (R-KS) and Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), the bill at its surface appears to be the nationally required labeling bill natural food advocates have been pining for. But there’s a hitch: brands would be permitted to disclose GMO ingredients via a smartphone-enabled QR code, website or phone number. Clear, on-pack labeling would still remain voluntary.